Unbalance control means for clothes treating apparatus



Sept. 8,1970

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United States Patent Oiiice 3,527,904 UNBALANCE CONTROL MEANS FOR CLOTHES TREATING APPARATUS Joseph C. Worst, Louisville, Ky., assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Filed May 21, 1969, Ser. No. 826,355 Int. Cl. H0111 35/14 U.S. Cl. 20G-61.45 5 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A proximity detector such as a magnet is mounted within the stationary cabinet structure of an automatic clothes washer to operate a switch in response to the approach of the rotating clothes container within a predetermined distance of the detector. By this arrangement, when unbalance forces cause the rotating clothes container to approach excessive vibrational amplitudes, the proximity detector and switch means controlled thereby Will, without having been physically engaged by the rotating container, initiate appropriate correctional measures such as reducing the speed of the rotating container.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to centrifuging machines for extracting liquid from articles by centrifugal force, and more particularly to such machines which incorporate vibration sensitive arrangements for preventing operation at speeds capable of causing excessive vibrations.

Machines which eifect an extraction of liquid from articles by high speed rotation of the container in which the articles are held are subject to high centrifugal forces as a result of the high speed rotation. When the articles within the container are positioned so as to be dynamically unbalanced, vibrations large enough to create undesirable noise or even damage to the machine may result. Typical of such machines are domestic clothes washers wherein the clothes container is spun at the end of the washing and rinsing operations to extract the wash and rinse water from the clothes. To prevent the occurrence of excessive vibrations, such centrifuging machines have commonly been provided with unbalance mechanisms which may `operate in a variety of ways to preclude excessive vibration. For instance, controls are actuated by an unbalance switch to return the rotating container to a low speed or to zero speed for a brief period of time to give the articles a chance to be redistributed, whereafter the machine again attempts high speed rotation. Another approach is to shut the machine ott completely if an excessive unbalance is sensed by the unbalanced mechanism. Still another approach has been to continue the centrifuging action at the maximum speed at which the vibrational forces are within a permissible limit.

In implementing the above approaches to eliminating excessive vibration, most prior art centrifuging machines employ a switching mechanism which is physically contacted by the rotating container when vibrating under the action of a dynamically unbalanced load. A problem arises, however, in conjunction with the positioning of such a physically contacted switching mechanism in applications such as automatic clothes washers, wherein the space between the stationary cabinet structure and the rotating container is made as small as possible in order to reduce the size of the appliance. It will be appreciated that within the outer protective cabinet there will be dened a circular area of permissible operation for the rotating container. If the load within the container is sufficiently unbalanced to cause the container to vibrate outside the permissible area, the container may strike the stationary cabinet structure or other machine components.

In order to prevent such striking of the stationary cabinet structure or other machine components by the rotating container, the unbalance sensing switch means is customarily positioned inside the circular area of permissible container operation where it is contacted by the rotating container while the container vibrations are of a smaller amplitude than is required to strike the cabinet or other components. Such positioning within the circular area of permissible container operation of the switch means enables the switch means to attempt to slow down or stop the container before the container vibrations take on suicient amplitude to strike the cabinet or other components.

Two problems are commonly found with prior art teachings of such physically contacted switching mechanisms positioned within the circular area of permissible container rotation. First, by positioning at least a portion of the switch means within the permissible area of container rotation, at least that portion of the switch means may Ibe subject to damage b y the rotating container. Second, by so positioning the switch means, in reality a smaller than necessary circular area of permissible container operation is defined resulting in an ineicient use of the limited space within the protective cabinet of an automatic washing machine.

It is therefore an object of my invention to provide an unbalance sensing switch means positioned entirely outside the area of permissible container rotation.

It is a further object to provide such a switch means which is operative to sense the proximity of rotating container and which requires no contact with the container for operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Briey stated, in accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a clothes treating machine comprising an outer cabinet structure and a container supported within the outer cabinet structure. The container is adapted to rotate relative to the cabinet structure and to centrifugally extract iluid from such articles as may be placed within the container. An electrically controlled driving means is provided to` rotate the container at a predetermined extraction speed. A proximity detector is mounted within the cabinet structure and is adapted to sense the approach of the container without being physically engaged by the container. A switch means is operably associated with the proximity detector and the driving means `to at least reduce the speed of rotation of the container when the container approaches the proximity detector within a predetermined distance.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which is regarded as the invention, it is believed that the invention will be better understood from the tollowing description of the preferred embodiment taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a clothes washing machine which includes my new and improved control, the view being partially broken away and partially in section to illustrate details; and

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an electric control circuit incorporating one form of my invention, which circuit is incorporated in the machine of PIG. 1.

3,527,904 Patented Sept. 8, 1970 3 DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings, and initially to. FIG. 1 thereof, there is shown a domestic fabric washing machine having a conventional basket or clothes receiving receptacle 11 provided over its side and bottom walls with perforations 12 and disposed within an imperforate tub or casing 13. The basket and tub together form a receptacle or co-ntainer means-to receive fluid and fabrics to be washed in the uid. Basket 11 may be provided with a suitable balance ring 14 to help steady the basket when it is rotated at high speed to extract liquid from the clothes, and with a suitable clothes retaining member 15 for preventing the clothes from floating over the top of the basket.

Tub 13 is rigidly mounted with an appearance and protective outer cabinet 16, which includes a cover 17 hingedly mounted on the top portion 18 of the cabinet to provide access through an opening 19 to the basket. At the center of basket 11 there is provided an agitator 20 which includes a center post 21 having a plurality of curved water circulating vanes 22 joined at their lower end to form an outwardly flared skirt 23. Both the clothes basket 11 and the agitator 20 are rotatably mounted. The basket is mounted on a ange 24 of a hub 25 and the agitator is mounted on a shaft 26 which extends upwardly through the hub 25 and through the center post 21 and is secured to the agitator so as to drive it. During a cycle of operation of machine 10, fluid is introduced into tub 13 and basket 11, the agitator 20 is then. oscillated back and forth on its axis, that is, in a horizontal plane within the basket, to wash the fabrics therein. After a predetermined period of this washing action, basket 11 is rotated at high speed to extract centrifugally the washing uid from the fabrics and discharge it to drain. Following this extraction period, a supply of clean fluid is introduced into the basket and the agitator is again oscillated for rinsing the fabrics. Finally, the basket is once more rotated at high speed to extract the rinse fluid.

The basket 11 and agitator 20- may be driven by any suitable means. By way of example, I have shown them as driven from a drive means including a reversible motor 27 and a multi-speed clutch 28` mounted on the motor shaft. The motor is tailored so as to be used to its full extent when it accelerates the basket 11 up to spin speed and, in order to assist the motor during starting, clutch 28 allows the motor to start without load and then accept the load as it comes up to speed. The clutch also is designed to have a high speed and a low speed output and, for this purpose, includes an actuator 29 connected to a solenoid coil 30 so that, when the solenoid coil is deenergized, the clutch will be effective to transmit power to the motor at a high speed and, when the clutch coil 30 is energized, the clutch will be effective to transmit power from the motor at a low speed. Many clutches of this type are available which will provide the selectable multi-speed operation. While the specific details of the clutch do not form part of my invention, reference is made to U.S. Pat. No. 3,324,984, issued June 13, 1967 to Mr. Gordon R. Brame and assigned to the assignee of the instant invention. That patent discloses in detail the structural characteristics of one clutch mechanism suitable for use in the illustrated machine.

A suitable belt 31 transmits power from clutch 28 to a transmission assembly 32 through a pulley 33. Thus, depending upon the direction of motor rotation, pulley 33 of transmission assembly 32 is driven in opposite directions. The transmission 32 is so arranged that it supports and drives both the agitator drive shaft 26 and the basket mounting hub 2S. When motor 27 is rotated in one direction, the transmission causes agitator 20` to oscillate in a substantially horizontal plane within the basket 11. Conversely, when motor 27 is driven in the opposite direction, the transmission rotates the clothes basket 11 and agitator 20 together at high speed for centrifugal fluid extraction. While the specific type of transmission does not form part of the invention, reference is made to U.S. Pat. No. 2,844,225, issued July 22, 1958 to Mr. James R. Hubbard et al. and assigned to the assignee of the instant invention. That patent discloses in detail the structural characteristics of a transmission assembly suitable for use in the illustrated machine.

In addition to operating the transmission as described, motor 27 provides a direct drive through a exible coupling .34 to a pump structure 35 which may include two separate pumping units 36 and 37 operated simultaneously in the same direction by motor 27. Pump unit 36 has an inlet connected by conduit 38 to an opening 39 formed in the lowermost part of tub 13. Pump unit 36 also has an outlet connected by a conduit 40 to a suitable drain (not shown). Pump unit 37 has an inlet connected by conduit 41 to the interior of tub 13 and an outlet connected by a conduit 42 to a nozzle 43. The pump is formed so that, in the spin direction of rotation, pump unit 36 will draw liquid from opening 39 and discharge it through conduit 40 to drain, and, in the other direction of rotation, pump unit 37 will draw in liquid through conduit 41 and discharge it through conduit 42 and nozzle 43, each of the pump units being substantially inoperative in the dire-ction of rotation in which it is not used.

Nozzle 43 is positioned to discharge into a filter pan 44 which may be secured on the top portion of agitator 20 so as to be movable therewith. With this structure, when the motor is rotating so as to provide agitation, pump unit 37 draws liquid through conduit 41 from tub 13 and discharges it through conduit 42 so that the liquid passes from nozzle 4.3 into filter pan 44, and then down through a number of small lopenings provided in the bottom of the filter pan back into the basket 11. In this manner the lter pan 44 causes lint, which is separated from the clothes during the washing operation, to be ltered out of the 4water and thus prevent it from being redeposited on the clothes.

Motor 27, clutch 28, transmission 32, basket 11 and agitator 20` form a suspended washing and centrifuging systemwhich is supported by the stationary structure of the machine (including tub 13), so as to permit isolation of vibrations from the stationary structure. While any suitable suspension structure may be used, -I show by way of example a suspension structure which includes a 'bracket member 45 with transmission 32 mounted on the top thereof and motor 27 mounted on the underside thereof. A counterweight 46 also may be mounted on the bracket member opposite motor 27 to counterbalance the weight of the motor and the clutch. The bracket member 45 is secured to -upwardly extending rigid mem` bers 47, and each of the two upwardly extending rigid members 47 is, in turn, connected to a cable 48 supported from the top of the machine. While only a portion of the suspension structure is shown in the drawing, such a vibration isolating system is fully described and claimed inV U.S. Pat. No. 2,987,190, issued June 6, 1961 to Mr. John Bochan and assigned to the assignee of the instant invention.

In order to accommodate the movement which occurs between basket 11 and tub 13,without any danger of fluid leakage therebetween, the stationary tub 13 is joined to the upper part of transmission 32 by a flexible boot member 49. A suitable and highly effective member of this type is described and claimed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,959,- 966 issued Nov. l5, 1960 to Mr. John Bochan and assigned to the assignee of the instant invention.

Hot and cold water may be supplied to the machine through conduits 50 and 51 which are adapted to be connected respectively to sources of hot and cold water (not shown). Conduits 50y and 51 extend into a conventional mixing valve structure 52 having solenoids 53 and 54 so that energization of solenoid 53 permits the passage of hot waterthrough the valve to a hose 55, energization of solenoid 54 permits the passage of cold water through the valve, 'while energization of both solenoids permits the mixing of hot and cold water in the valve and passage of warm water into the hose 55. The hose 55 is positioned to communicate with a nozzle 56 which, in turn, is positioned to discharge into basket 11 and tub 13 so that when one or both of the solenoids 53 and 54 are energized, water enters basket 11 and tub 13. The level to which water rises in basket 11 and tub 13 is controlled by suitable water level control means such as pressure sensitive switch 57 mounted on the bottom of tub 13 and connected to solenoids 53 and 54 to interrupt the. supply of uid when a predetermined level of fluid is reached in the tub 13 and basket 11. The user may select the desired water level in the machine as well as other features of a particular wash cycle by utilizing one or more of the push buttons 58 and control dial 59 provided on the backsplash 60.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the electrical control system of the machine of FIG. l will be described. In connection with the circuit of FIG. 2 it will be understood that present day 'Washers often include various improvements such as control panel lights, bleach and rinse agent dispensers, etc., which do not relate to the present invention; to some extent these have been omitted for the sake of simplicity and ease of understanding.

In order to control the sequence of operation of the components of machine 10, the circuit includes an automatic sequence control assembly which incorporates a timer motor A61 adapted to drive a plurality of cams 62, 63, 64 and 65 and to rotate a printed circuit board 66. The cams, during their rotation by the timer motor, actuate various switches (as will be described) and the printed circuit board, during its rotation by the timer motor, selectively connects certain contacts (as will be described), causing the machine to pass through an appropriate cycle of operation; first washing the clothes, then extracting the wash water, then rinsing the clothes in clean Water, and nally centrifuging the rinse 'water from the clothes.

The electric circuit as a Whole is adapted to be energized from a power supply (not shown) through a pair of conductors 67 and 68. Cam 62 controls a switch 69 provided in the supply conductor 68 so that, when the cam `62 has assumed a position in which the switch 69 is open, machine is disconnected from the power source and is inoperative. When operation of machine 10 is to be initiated, switch 69 is controlled by cam 62 so as to be closed. This may be accomplished by manually rotating dial 59 which is connected to the timer motor and thus to the cams. Then, when main switch 70 in conductor 67 is closed as by depressing control dial 59, power is provided to the control circuit of the machine from the conductor 67 to the conductor `68.

From main switch 70 the circuit extends through a conductor 71 and a conductor 72 to one side of timer motor 61. The other side of timer motor 61 is connected by conductor 73 to a switch 74- controlled by cam 63. When switch 74 is closed it connects the timer motor through a conductor 75 and switch 69 to conductor 68. A parallel path to conductor 75 is provided by the other portion of conductor 73 which terminates in a Acontact 76 of the water level switch 57, which also includes an additional contact 77 and a movable arm 78. Operation of the water level switch 57 is such that when the diuid in the tub and basket is below a predetermined level, arm 78 is in engagement with contact 77 and, when the uid is above the predetermined level, the arm is moved into engagement with contact 76. Thus, 'when the uid in the tub and basket is above a predetermined level the timer motor is connected to supply conductor 68 through the water level switch 57, regardless of the position of cam operated switch 74.

An energizing circuit for the main motor 27 extends from conductor 71 through a conventional motor protector 79 and motor start winding 80 to a switch 81 of a relay 82, which also has a relay coil 83. From switch i81 the circuit extends through a conductor '84 and a switch 85 operated by Acam 64 to conductor 73. One side of the main winding 86 of motor 27 is connected to one side of the relay coil 83 while the other side of main winding 86 is connected by a conductor 87 to a switch arm 818. The other side of relay coil 83 is connected by a conductor 89 to a switch arm 90. The switch arms 88 and 90 are controlled by cam 65 and are moved together by the cam so as to cooperate with a set of contacts 91, 92 and 93. The contact 91 is connected by a conductor 94 to the supply circuit for the motor at a point between the motor protector 79 and the start winding 80. The contact 92 is counected by a conductor y95 to conductor -84. The contact 93 is connnected through a lid switch 96 to the conductor 94. The lid switch 96 is so constructed and mounted in the machine 10 that the switch is closed when lid 17 of the machine is closed and open when the lid is open. Thus, when lid switch 96 is connected in the supply circuit for motor 27, the opening of lid 17 will cause the machine to stop operation.

The motor 27 is of the conventional type in which the start winding 80 assist the main winding 86 during the starting of the motor and is energized in parallel therewith. When a suitable current passes through the relay coil 83 it causes the relay switch 81 to be closed which permits an energizing circuit for the start winding to be completed in parallel with the main winding. Relay coil 83 is designed to close switch 81 when a relatively high current, of the level demanded by the motor when the motor is rotating below a predetermined speed, is passing through it. At other times, when there is no current passing through the relay coil 83 or when the current is below the required energizing level, as is true in the running speed range of the motor, the switch 81 is open. It will be noted that, when switch arms 88 and 90 are in the position shown, that is, in engagement with contacts 91 and 92, respectively, the main winding `86 is connected in parallel with the start winding from the point between motor protector 79 and start widing 80 through conductor 94, contact 91, switch arm 88, conductor 87, main winding 86, relay coil `83, conductor 89, switch arm 90, contact 92 and conductor 95 to conductor l84. When the switch arms have been moved in response to rotation of cam 65 to their other position in which switch arm 88 engages contact 92 and switch arm 90 engages contact 93 the circuit extends from between the motor protector 79 and start winding 80 through conductor 94, lid switch 96, contact 93, switch arm 90, conductor l89, relay coil 83, main winding l86, conductor 87, switch arm 88, contact 92 and conductor 95 to conductor `84. Thus in either position of the switch arm '88 and 90, the main winding is connected in parallel with the start winding; however. the relative polarity of the windings is reversed from one position of the switch arms to the other.

The cold water solenoid 54Ais connected in a conductor 97 which extends from conductor 71 to a contact 98. A rst wash temperature selection switch 99 is connected on one side by a conductor 100 to conductor 97 and on the other side is connected to a conductor 101 which terminates in a contact 102. The hot water solenoid S3 is connected on one side to conductor 71 and on the other side to a second Wash temperature selection switch 103 by conductor 104. The other side of second Iwash ternperature switch 103 is connected by conductor 105 to a contact 106. The conductors 101 and 105 are interconnected by a rinse temperature selection switch 107. An additional contact 108 is provided and connected by a conductor 109 to the contact 77 of water level switch 57.

The contacts 98, 102, 106 and 108 are constructed and disposed to cooperate with printed circuit board 66. Printed circuit board 66 is provided with conducting tracts such as those illustrated at 110l which are designed, as to their configurations and continuity, to selectively connect contact 108 with contacts 98, 102 and 106. The

printed circuit board and contacts work in conjunction with temperature selection switches 99, 103 and 107 to provide the desired wash and rinse temperatures. By way of example, the conducting tracts 110 may be designed so that contacts 98 and 108 will be connected during rinse fill only, contacts 102 and 108 will be connected during both wash and rinse lill, and contacts 106 and 108 will be connected during wash fill only. With these particular printed circuit connections, there may be provided several temperature selections including a hot wash and warm rinse, a hot wash and cold rinse, a warm wash and a warm rinse, a warm wash and cold rinse and a cold wash and cold rinse. The particular combination provided is determined by which of the temperature selection switches 99, 103 and 107 the user closes as by utilizing selected ones of the push buttons 58 provided on the backsplash 60.

A typical cycle of operation for machine 10 will now be described. As previously stated, at the end of a cycle of operation, cam 62 opens switch 69 to turn olf the machine. In order to initiate a subsequent cycle of operation, dial 59 is pulled out, opening switch 70, and rotated sufficiently to cause cam 62 to close switch 69, cam 63 to open switch 74, cam 64 to close switch 85, cam 65 to move switches 88 and 90 into engagement with contacts 91 and 92 respectively and printed circuit board 66 to rotate sufficiently to connect contacts 102 and 106 with contact 108 through predetermined ones of tracts 110. Dial 59 is then depressed, closing switch 70. Since there is essentially no fluid in the machine, arm 78 of water level switch 57 is in engagement with contact 77. With this switch arrangement timer motor 61 and main motor 27 are effectively disconnected from the supply circuit and one or both of the hot and cold water solenoids 53 and 54 are connected in position, depending upon which of the switches 99, 103 and 107 have been closed by the user operating appropriate ones of the push buttons 58. Water of the temperature selected by the user flows into the machine through water inlet valve 52, hose 55 and nozzle 56 until the amount of fluid within the machine reaches the predetermined level at which arm 78 of pressure switch 57 moves from engagement with contact 77 into engagement with contact 76.

This effectively de-energizes the water valves and completes a circuit for both the main motor 27 and the timer motor 61. Timer motor 61 begins to rotate and current is provided to the main winding 86 of the motor and the relay coil 83. Since the motor 27 is initially below operating speed, the current through the relay coil is high causing switch 81 to close so that start winding 80 is energized in parallel with the main winding 86. The motor quickly comes up to speed, after which switch 81 opens to deenergize start Winding 80 and the motor continues to operate on the main winding alone. With switch arms 88 and 90 in the position shown, the main winding is connected to cause the motor to rotate in a direction to provide agitation; that is, the motor drives the transmission in a direction to cause the agitator to oscillare back and forth in a horizontal plane within the machine and pump unit 37 to recirculate fluid through lter pan 44 to filter lint from the wash fluid. This washing operation continues for a predetermined period of.time, after which timer motor 61 causes cam 63 to close switch 74 and cam 64 to open switch 85. This effectively de-energizes the main motor 27 so that it quickly stops while timer motor 61 continues to run.

During the pause of the main motor, timer motor 61 causes cam 65 to move switch arms 88 and 90 into engagement with contacts 92 and 93 respectively, thus reversing the polarity of main winding 86 with respect to start winding 80. Printed circuit board 66 is rotated sufficiently to effectively disconnect contact 108 from contacts 98, 102 and 106. Cam 64 then recloses switch 85 restarting the motor, but in the opposite direction to cause a centrifugal extraction in which the basket and agitator rotates together at high speed to extract the fluid from the fabrics and pump unit 36 evacuates the vitiated fluid to drain.

During the extraction operation the amount of fluid in the machine will quickly fall below the predetermined level so that the switch arm 78 disengages from contact 76 and engages contact 77; however, this has no effect on the operation of the machine. The timer motor and main motor continue to run because the circuit from them is completed through conductor 73, switch 74, conductor 75 and switch 69 to supply conductor 68. No water is provided to the machine because the printed circuit board has been rotated by timer motor 61 to a position in which contact 108 is disconnected from all of the contacts 98, 102 and 106.

At the conclusion of wash extraction operation, cam 64 again opens switch 85 to de-energize the motor, cam 65 returns switches 88 and 90 to the position shown in FIG. 2, and the printed circuit board 66 is rotated to a position in which contact 108 is connected with contact 102 and contact 98, then cam 63 opens switch 74. The machine thus is set for a non-time filled operation of rinse fluid until the amount of fluid in the machine reaches the predetermined level, causing arm 78 to engage contacts '76. This causes the water valves 53 and 54 to be de-energized and the main motor 27 again to be energized in the first or agitation direction so that the clothes will be rinsed in the clean fluids.

After a predetermined rinsing operation, cam 63 closes switch 74, cam 64 opens switch 85, cam 65 moves switches 88 and 90 to their second or spin position in engagement with contacts 92 and 93 respectively, and printed circuit board 66 is rotated to a position in which contact 108 is disconnected from all of its associated contacts. Cam 64 then causes switch 85 to reclose to cause a second or rinse centrifugal extraction operation for removing the vitiated rinse fluid from the machine. At the conclusion of the rinse operation, the cam 62 opens switch 69 to effectively completely disconnect the machine from the electrical power supply. The dial 59 and switch 70 may be constructed so that at the same time switch 69 is opened, switch 70 is opened to completely isolate the control circuit from electrical energy.

In order to control the speed of the machine during Wash and rinse periods of agitation operation, the clutch coil 30 is connected between a spin speed selector switch arm 111 and a wash speed selector switch arm 112, with each of the arms 111 and 112 being movable between two extreme positions by manual manipulation of appropriate ones of push buttons 58 on the backsplash 60. In its extreme position shown, the arm 111 engages a contact 113 which is connected to conductor 87 for a fast spin speed selection. In its other extreme position, the arm 111 will engage a contact 114 which, in turn, is connected to conductor 71 to provide a slow spin speed selection. In its illustrated position, arm 112 engages a contact 115 which, in turn, is connected to conductor 87 for a high agitation speed selection. In its other extreme or slow wash speed setting, the arm 112 engages a contact 116 which is connected to conductor 95. Positioned between arm 111 and coil 30 is a switch arm 117 which normally engages contact 118 unless relay coil 119 is energized whereupon switch arm 117 engages contact 120. The operation of switch arm 117 and relay 119 will be explained in greater detail below.

As previously stated, clutch 28 is of the type which will transfer power from motor 27 at a relatively high speed if the central coil 30 is not energized and will shift to a relatively low speed upon energization of the control coil. Keeping in mind that switch arms 88 and 90 are in engagement with contacts 92 and 93, respectively, during spin or centrifugal extraction operations, a perusal of FIG. 2 will show that the spin speed of the basket is dependent entirely upon the setting of switch arm 111.

The setting of switch arm 112 may be at either of its two extreme positions without affecting the spin speed of the machine. This is because during centrifugal extraction, contacts 113, 115 and 11i6 are all connected through conductor 95 to power supply conductor 68, and only contact 114 connects through conductor 71 to power supply conductor 67.

Similarly, during agitation periods of operation switch arms 88 and 90 engage contacts 91 and 92, respectively, and the setting of spin speed selector S'Witch arm 111 has no effect on the energization of coil 30. Whether coil 30 is energized to provide a relatively slow speed agitation or is de-energized to provide a relatively high speed agitation depends upon the positioning of switch arm 112. This is because during agitation contacts 113, 114 and 115 are all connected through conductor 71 to power supply conductor I67, and onlyrcontact 116 connects through conductor 95 to power supply conductor 68.

According to my invention, there is positioned within the upstanding wall of tub 13 a proximity detector means 121 adapted to sense the proximity of basket or container 11 and to operate a switch means 122 when the container 11 approaches within a predetermined distance of the detector 121. Operation of the switch means 122, as will be explained in detail below, will, during centrifugal extraction, serve to energize relay coil 119 which in turn causes movement of switch arm 117 from a position engaging contact 118 to a position engaging contact 120.

In the preferred embodiment of my invention container 11 is comprised of a magnetic material, and proximity detector 121 comprises a magnet 123 carried by a resilient arm 124. Switch means 122 comprises two contacts 125 and 126 adapted to be moved into and out of engagement with each other. Contact 125 is supported in a stationary fashion by a relatively rigid arm 127 and contact 126 is carried by a resilient arm 128. Arms 124 and 128 are connected for concurrent movement by means of link 129 which assures that when magnet 123 moves from a first position as sho-wn in FIG. 2 to a second position wherein magnet 123 rests against shield 130, switch contacts 125 and 126 will move into engagement with each other. Shield 130 comprises a non-magnetically attracted material which both limits the movement of magnet 123 toward container 11 and serves to shield the magnet 123 and switch means 122 from fluid which may be discharged from container 11.

Resilient arms 124 and 128 are adapted to bias magnet 123 to the first position of FIG. 2. By this arrangement, when the unbalance-caused vibrational movements of rotating container 11 bring the container within a predetermined distance of proximity detector 121, magnet 123 will be attracted toward container 11 with suflicient force to overcome the bias of arms 124 and 128, thereby closing contacts 125 and 126.

Contact 125 is connected by a conductor 131 to conductor 87. Contact 126 is connected by a conductor 132 to one side of relay coil 119, the other side of relay coil 119 being connected by a conductor 133 through lid switch 96 to conductor 94. As has been previously eX- plained during agitation, there is no voltage drop across conductors 87 and 94, hence switch 122 will be inoperative to energize relay coil 119. However, during centrifugal extraction, conductor 87 is connected to conductor 95 and the line voltage appears between conductors 87 and 94, whereby the closing of switch means 122 through contacts 125 'and 126 will cause energization of relay coil 119.

-Connected in parallel with switch means 122 between conductors 131 and 132 is a switch arm 134 which is operative when relay coil 119 is energized to engage contact 135. By this arrangement, once relay coil 119 is energized by switch means 122, switch arm 134 is caused to engage contact 135 thereby resulting in a continuous energization of relay coil 119 regardless of the subsequent positioning of switch means 122. Such continuous energization of relay coil 119 will continue until the current flow through conductor 133 is interrupted by the opening of lid 17 and lid switch 96 by the operator.

Although the unbalance detector of my invention may be utilized to initiate any of a variety of unbalance correcting functions, in the aforedescribed machine, switch 122 is adapted to provide power to relay coil 119 in the event of substantial unbalance, When power is supplied to coil 119, switch arm 117 is caused to disengage Contact 118 and to instead engage contact 120. During such time as switch arm 111 is in engagement with contact 113 thereby de-energizing clutch solenoid coil 30, movement of switch arm 117 into engagement with contact 120 will energize clutch solenoid coil 30 reducing the centrifugal extraction speed from fast to slow. However,

during such time as switch arm 111 is engaging contact 114, movement of switch arm 117 into engagement with contact 120 will only continue the energization of clutch coil 30 thus continuing slow speed operation. It should be realized that unbalance forces are seldom of sufficient magnitude during slow speed operation to require a further reduction of machine speed to prevent excessive vibrations.

As was previously mentioned, my system is particularly adapted for use in automatic clothes washers wherein it is desirable to provide an unbalance sensing means which is positioned outside the area of permissible container operation and which does not require engagement with the container in order to control various unbalance corrective control means. From the foregoing description it should now be apparent that the present invention, by providing a proximity detector disposed outside the area of permissible container operation which detects the approach of the container and responds by operating a switch means when the container approaches within a predetermined distance, provides such au unbalance sensing means.

As will be evident from the foregoing description, certain aspects of the invention are not limited to the particular details of construction of the example illustrated, and it is contemplated that other modifications, applications or variations will occur to those skilled in the art. It is therefore intended to cover such modifications, applications and variations as do not depart from the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a clothes treating machine:

an outer stationary cabinet structure;

a container supported within said outer stationary cabinet structure and adapted for rotation relative thereto to centrifugally extract liquid from such articles as may be placed within said container;

electrically controlled driving means for rotating said container at a predetermined extraction speed;

a proximity detector means mounted within said outer stationary cabinet structure and responsive to sense the approach of said container without physically engaging said container; and

switch means operably associated with said proximity detector and said driving means to at least reduce the speed of rotation of said container when said container approaches said proximity detector means within a predetermined distance.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein:

said container has at least a portion comprising a magnetic material;

said proximity detector means comprises a magnet movable between first and second positions, and a biasing means biasing said magnet to the first position;

whereby when said portion of said container approaches said magnet within a predetermined distance, the attraction therebetween overcomes said biasing means moving said magnet from said lirst position to said second position.

3. The invention of claim 2 wherein said switch means include:

at least two contacts adapted to be moved into and out of engagement with each other; and

means for moving said contacts in response to movement of said magnet from said first position to said second position.

4. The invention of claim 3 wherein:

said contacts comprise at least one stationary contact and at least one movable contact, said movable contact being carried by a movable arm; and

said magnet is adapted to move in conjunction with said arm so as to move said movable contact in response to movement of said magnet from said rst position to said second position.

5. The invention of claim 4 wherein said proximity UNITED STATES PATENTS 2/1943 Bassett 210-144 3,226,959 1/1966 Smith et al 68-12 3,422,957 l/l969 Fosler 210-144 ROBERT K. SCHAEFER, Primary Examiner M. GINSBURG, Assistant Examiner U.S. C1. X.R. 

